AMES, Ia. — Nate Scheelhaase hasn’t even coached an Iowa State football game, and he’s already smack-dab in the middle of a significant Cyclones storyline.

It’s the solid array of running backs headlining an already strong recruiting Class of 2019 that Scheelhaase had a big hand in landing — and what their commitments could mean in the not-so-distant future.

And the timing couldn't be better. Every day it's looking more like 2018 could be David Montgomery’s final season in an Iowa State uniform — especially if he improves on an eye-popping 2017 that included 1,146 rushing yards, and so many averted tackles that Pro Football Focus ranked him the No. 1 returning running back among Power Five schools.

The common denominator in this recruiting haul is Scheelhaase, Matt Campbell’s running backs coach who has wasted no time influencing the positively trending program he joined last January.

Most recruiting sites rank Brock No. 2 in the state of Illinois. He’s from Quincy, and to lure him to Ames when not only Northwestern offered, but also Illinois, is a credit to Scheelhaase’s effort.

"They have a really good running back in David Montgomery right now, who I feel is probably the best running back in the nation," Brock told Quincy television station KHQA after his commitment ceremony. "He's likely to leave after this year, so I feel like me and Breece Hall, another running back commit, will be able to fill that void."

And let’s not forget Leonard Glass, a top-notch recruit from California. He picked Iowa State over Washington State and Oregon State, among others ... and Scheelhaase has him on his recruiting resume, too.

So in just six months since replacing Lou Ayeni, Iowa State already has arguably the top committed 2019 running back class in the nation ready to spring onto the field whenever Montgomery decides to start playing on Sundays.

And you probably scratched your head when learning Campbell hired Scheelhaase when the personable Ayeni headed to Northwestern, his alma mater.

Iowa State Class of 2019 running back commitment Jirehl Brock(Photo: Special to the Register: Michael Kipley/Quincy Herald-Whig)

You didn’t question his ability to improve Montgomery and the plethora of others at the position. At 27 years old and just three seasons as a college assistant coach, you wondered about his recruiting contacts and ability.

Well ... You shouldn't.

Three high-end running backs among a solid 2019 class — one from Illinois, another from Kansas and the other from California.

Northwest's Breece Hall, left, is one of Iowa State's top 2019 recruiting targets at running back.(Photo: Special to the Register: Fred Solis/Wichita Eagle)

That's three candidates to replace Montgomery either after this season or next.

And you wondered about Scheelhaase’s young recruiting chops?

“He’s special,” Campbell said during one of this year's Cyclone Tailgate Tour stops.

Scheelhaase was a four-year Illinois starting quarterback — one of the best in school history. He became assistant director of football operations at the school. He was a running backs coach and, for the previous two seasons, was an offensive analyst on coach Lovie Smith’s staff.

He won the prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor in 2014 for the conference's greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work. He has two degrees — a bachelor’s in communication and a master’s in sports management.

But can the guy recruit? Campbell was asked that question during a Tailgate stop.

“The reality of it is that Nate has done that, so it’s not so new to him,” the head coach said. “Nate is very talented. I think that’s one thing you’ve already seen in the fruits of success from what Nate has been able to bring to the table since he’s been here.”

Not only to the table — but also to the running backs' meeting room.

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson has been with the Register for parts of five decades. Randy writes opinion and analysis of Iowa State football and basketball. You can reach Randy at rpeterson@dmreg.com or on Twitter at @RandyPete.